Speculations surrounding Hardik Pandya’s availability have persisted since he sustained an injury during India’s World Cup 2023 clash against Bangladesh. According to the latest report from Sports Tak, the 30-year-old will be absent from the upcoming three-match T20I series against Afghanistan, commencing on January 12.
Contrary to earlier expectations of his fitness for the Afghanistan series, reports suggested that Hardik might lead the side. However, several media outlets, including NDTV, hinted at his potential absence from IPL 2024, where he was anticipated to captain Mumbai Indians after Rohit Sharma.
While his participation in the Afghanistan T20Is is of lesser significance, the focus remains on Hardik’s role in the T20 World Cup 2024, where he is in contention for leadership alongside MI teammates Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, and Jasprit Bumrah.
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Considering the risk associated with bringing Hardik back early, the BCCI is likely to prioritize his preparation for the T20 World Cup by having him participate directly in IPL 2024. Hardik sustained an ankle injury during the 2023 World Cup against Bangladesh, leading to his absence from action since then.